By Stephen McIlkenny

Die Roten coach has stated that his side have no excuses for not playing well against Schalke this weekend, but believes that Jens Keller's men deserve respect

Bayern Munich head Jupp Heynckes believes that a lack of midweek fixtures leaves his side with no excuses if they do not take all three points from Schalke on Saturday.

Bayern have been in scintillating form in the league with 16 wins out of 20 games, and currently enjoy a 12-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.

"I think the players will be fully ready for Saturday because there is a difference between English weeks [playing both midweek and at the weekend] and playing only at the weekend, so we are prepared," he told reporters.

The Bayern coach also praised the work of Schalke boss Jens Keller, whose side sit in sixth place but have only picked up four points from their last three matches, having been also knocked out of the German Cup.

"They are a good team with good players - Jens Keller should be able to work in peace as he is a young coach who has taken on a difficult job.

"The team [Schalke] has played much better than it is being portrayed in the public domain."